The Independent National Electoral Commission has begun consultations with disability organisations and representatives of persons with disabilities as part of efforts to increase their participation in the 2027 general elections.
The engagement with the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, Organisations of Persons with Disabilities and cluster heads focuses on voter sensitisation and mobilisation ahead of the polls.
The commission said the initiative was designed to ensure eligible voters with disabilities receive adequate information and are able to participate meaningfully throughout the electoral process.
In a post on its X handle on Wednesday, INEC Acting Chairman, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, who represented the commission’s Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, described the engagement as timely as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify.
Gumus said, “The Commission is committed to building an electoral process that is inclusive, accessible, participatory and responsive to the needs of all eligible citizens.”
She said the inclusion of persons with disabilities in elections was backed by Section 54 of the Electoral Act 2026, the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 and INEC’s Framework on Access and Participation of Persons with Disabilities in the Electoral Process.
The acting chairman also called for more innovative methods of reaching voters with disabilities through targeted voter education.
She said, “We must explore innovative approaches to voter education, including disability-specific communication channels, community-based organisations, radio, social media and other assistive formats.”
INEC disclosed that its existing data, collected before the introduction of the Automated Fingerprint Identification System, put the number of persons with disabilities at 137,487.
The figure includes 13,080 visually impaired persons, 9,299 hearing-impaired persons, 30,561 persons with albinism, 19,430 persons with physical impairments and 54,941 people classified under other disability categories.
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Gumus urged JONAPWD and other disability organisations to lead the sensitisation efforts within their respective clusters, particularly on voter registration, collection of Permanent Voter Cards, voting procedures and available accessibility measures.
She said, “I urge JONAPWD and the Organisations of Persons with Disabilities to take ownership of this sensitisation process and ensure that members within your respective clusters receive timely and accurate information.”
According to her, the consultation would also enable stakeholders to identify obstacles affecting participation, exchange effective strategies and develop practical measures for implementation before, during and after the elections.
She said, “This engagement provides an opportunity to identify barriers to participation, share successful strategies and agree on practical actions that can be implemented before, during and after the elections.”
INEC’s Director of Gender and Inclusivity, Mrs Lakunuya Dorothy Bello, outlined some accessibility measures already provided by the commission for voters with disabilities.
They include Braille ballot guides, magnifying glasses, the EC30 PWD form and sign-language interpretation during collation activities.
The commission said the engagement was part of its wider preparations to improve access to electoral information and promote fuller participation of persons with disabilities in the 2027 general elections.